News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

An Antrim woman, who was viciously assaulted during a football match at Chimney Corner F.C., has relived her horror after seeing her attacker sent to a young offenders' center at Antrim Magistrates' Youth Court.

Laura Adair, from Springfarm, received horrendous facial injuries and required surgery to rebuild her cheekbone following the brutal assault that left her unable to work for more than two months.

She was playing for Knockbreda against Blackieville Ladies in a N.I. Women's Football Association Division One Match in May when a teenage player on the opposing team attacked her around 70 minutes into the match.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]
ARMAGH

Staff at Slieve Gullion Credit Union in Forkhill endured a terrifying ordeal last Friday evening, November 23, when a three-man gang armed with axes and a handgun entered the premises and forced workers to hand over a sum of money.

The masked trio made their way into the Main Street building shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Friday night and threatened staff with the weapons, before escaping with the stolen cash in a silver-colored VW Golf.

Agricultural food firms Danone and Tanco have won the two top prizes at the Ireland France Business Awards.

Infant formula manufacturer Danone won the Best French Company in Ireland award. Tanco Autowrap, the Carlow-based agricultural machinery company, was the joint winner of the Best Irish Company in France award, along with wastewater treatment systems manufacturer Tricel S.A.S.U., a French subsidiary of K.M.G. based in Killarney.

The annual awards, run by the Ireland France Chamber of Commerce and Network Irlande recognize outstanding business performance and bilateral trade between Ireland and France. This year’s awards were sponsored by B.N.P. Paribas.
[Source: Irish Examiner]
CAVAN

The Health Service Executive has said it is to set up a review group to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a baby who was born two weeks ago at Cavan General Hospital.

It is understood the baby boy was delivered by C-section Thursday, November 28, however, the procedure suffered delays as another C-section had already been carried out in the main theatre, and so a second theatre had to be surgically prepared.

When the baby was born, he was critically ill and was later transferred to the National Neonatal Unit at Holles Street in Dublin for treatment, where he died a short time later.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Orla Ní Eilí, of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre in Ennis, has warned that some people in the county may experience further isolation if Wednesday’s budget adversely impacts upon the income of low earners or the unemployed.

“The worrying part is that people will become even more isolated, no matter what their background is; Irish or new Irish,” Ms. Ní Eilí said.

“People could become very isolated in their homes. They might have no work, even though they are looking for work or seeking courses. They may be staying in just because they don’t have the resources to be walking around town and spending a couple of bob here or there. It’s a very worrying time for a lot of people,” she added.
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

Bruce Springsteen is bringing his amazing live show to Cork this July. It has been announced last Wednesday afternoon that Bruce Springsteen and his fabled E Street band will be playing Páirc Uí Chaoimh on July 18.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, December 6, at 9 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

The 63-year old “Born in the U.S.A.” star will also play Thomond Park in Limerick two days prior on July 16 and Belfast two days after Cork on July 20.
[Source: Cork Independent]
DERRY

Derry singer and Glee star Damian McGinty is currently soaring high in the American iTunes charts with pre-orders for his debut E.P. outselling Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Christina Aguilera and, yes, even the Glee soundtrack.

The E.P. went on sale last Tuesday and, by lunchtime, had hit number 14 in the American pop charts – Damian’s reaction to the Journal on hearing this news was a simple “holy s---.”

The 20-year-old also told followers on Facebook and Twitter the success so far of the five-track E.P. had been “beyond his wildest expectations” and he encouraged his fans to follow their own dreams.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

Fine Gael T.D. for Donegal North East, Joe McHugh, has called the news that both Malin Head and Valentia Island Coast Guard stations are to remain open “a victory for common sense.”

Deputy McHugh, who has consistently campaigned for the retention of Malin Head station, said, “Minister Leo Varadkar’s confirmation [last Thursday] that he will recommend the retention of Malin Head and Valentia Island in the national Coast Guard stations network is a victory for common sense.

“The retention of Malin Head and Valentia Island Coast Guard stations will preserve the long-standing relationships between fishermen and the Malin Head and Valentia Island stations, which are a vitally important element in delivering the high-quality Coast Guard services on which Irish fishermen and the Irish marine industry rely.”
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN

Newry and Mourne District Council, and the Department for Social Development (D.S.D.) have announced the commencement of a Public Consultation Process in regards to the proposed Newry City Linkages Public Realm Scheme.

The scheme is aiming to start on-site in April/May 2013 and run until early 2014. The works will be concentrated on the canal-side of Buttercrane Quay and Merchants Quay, between Dublin and Sugar Island Bridges.

The works will comprise the replacement of the existing canal boundary wall with a new decorative maritime railing and the removal of car parking spaces to facilitate the provision of a new wider granite paved/curbed pathway. New decorative street lighting, street furniture, tree planting and public art is also proposed as part of the scheme.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]
DUBLIN

A Chinese woman has been accused of sexually assaulting two schoolgirls at a screening of a horror movie at a Dublin cinema. Yan Ching (42) is alleged to have groped the girls' legs while telling them they were beautiful and touching herself, before photographing them against their wishes.

She is accused of carrying out the assault after calling the girls over to ask if she was sitting in the right seat.

The 12-year-olds were trying to leave when the accused allegedly pulled one back by the ponytail.
[Source: Evening Herald]
FERMANAGH

Lisnaskea-based entrepreneur Maurice Kettyle, winner of the Fermanagh Herald Business of the Year award is, literally, bringing home the bacon.

Two weeks ago, his firm, Kettyle Irish Foods, won a $1.9 million contract to supply Fermanagh bacon, which has been dry-cured using seaweed, to one of Holland’s biggest supermarkets, Albert Heijn.

In a week when a survey of 1,000 businesses north and south revealed that 65 percent did not export their produce, Kettyle Irish Foods is bucking the trend big time, in that it supplies cured meat to up to a dozen countries, including Dubai and Singapore.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]
GALWAY

A large dragon tattoo covering the back of a bald biker’s head led to his arrest for being involved in a punishment-style beating that left another biker with a broken arm, leg and ankle.

Tattooist Jeremy Berger (28), a native of Balbriggan in Dublin, who was living at the time at 183 Baile an Choiste, Castlegar, Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court last Wednesday to assaulting Paul McGuire, causing him harm at Bike Tech, Unit 1, Block 13, Ballybane Industrial Estate, Galway, on February 8, 2011.

Garda (Police Officer) Pat Foley gave evidence on November 28 that Berger was trying to join the Galway Chapter of the Outlaw Bikers Club at the time, and had been pressured by a member to get involved in the beating.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

Canon William Crean, parish priest of Cahirciveen in County Kerry and newly appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Cloyne, has admitted a level of apprehension about the appointment.

Speaking on November 23 at St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, the bishop-elect said he was committing himself to do all he could with others in the diocese to bring healing and hope to the lives of all victims of abuse and their families.

“Because I am deeply conscious of the trauma of these years past – so much suffering endured by young people at the hands of a few – sufferings compounded by the failure of those who didn’t believe them and those who didn’t hear their cry for help,” he said.
[Source: Irish Times]
KILDARE

Thousands of County Kildare residents could be left literally in the dark this winter because of a county council decision to terminate public lighting services in their estates. The areas in question are classified as unfinished estates, not yet taken in charge by the council, and the council has confirmed that it will no longer pay for electricity supply to these areas.

The matter was raised last week by Naas area Fianna Fáil activist James Lawless, who submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act after receiving complaints from residents that there was no basic street lighting maintenance in a number of areas.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]
KILKENNY

It will take “quite a while” to provide flood relief works in Graignamanagh and Thomastown, a senior Kilkenny County Council official has predicted.

Giving members a review of flood relief works around the county at the council’s monthly meeting, Director of Services John Mulholland was asked by Graignamanagh-based Councilor. Tommy Prendergast (Labour) and Thomastown-based Clr. Sean Treacy (Fianna Fail) about the progress in their respective areas. Clr. Prendergast noted in particular that the town had nearly flooded the previous night.

The council had hoped that the two towns would be covered by funding from the Office of Public Works (O.P.W.) for small schemes, but it has since been determined that both schemes will probably exceed the funding threshold.
[Source: Kilkenny People]
LAOIS

No injuries have been reported following a series of crashes which forced Gardaí (police) in Laois to close one of the country’s motorways after a string of crashes following a night of hard frost.

On Wednesday morning, November 28, the Gardaí closed the M7 from junction 14 (Monasterevin) to Junction 15 (Ballybrittas) both southbound and northbound following a number of collisions on this part of the motorway.

Diversions are in place and motorists are asked to follow diversions.
[Source: Leinster Express]
LEITRIM

County Leitrim may have the smallest population in the country, but it’s determined to capture the attention of everyone with even a modest link to the county with the launch of the Leitrim Roots Festival 2013. Organizers are hoping to borrow a social media catchphrase to capture a world-wide tourist audience.

The letters “lol” are peppered across messages on social media and by mobile texts to mean “laugh out loud’ or “lots of love.”

But now the Leitrim Roots Genealogy Festival, taking place from September 20-28, 2013, has launched a tourism initiative that will try to persuade people of Leitrim Irish Heritage abroad to “lol” and “love our Leitrim.”
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

Two years and ten million YouTube views since “Horse Outside” captured the public’s imagination, The Rubberbandits’ long-anticipated television pilot for Channel 4 was broadcasted last Friday night.

The half-hour episode cost $390,000 to produce and features an all-Irish cast and crew, but the stars are the ‘Bandits themselves, who wrote the script and accompanying score, made the prosthetics and performed every character.

For the first time on the pages of this newspaper – and ahead of anticipated crossover success for the ‘Bandits in the U.K. – we finally unmask the duo behind the plastic-bag-wearing rappers as Limerick city men Dave Chambers and Bob McGlynn – pictured above in heavy make-up in a still from the pilot episode.
[Source: Limerick Leader]
LONGFORD

The Longford G.A.A. mourned the passing of one of its football legends recently, in Robert “Bobby” Burns.

He was best-known throughout the county for his heroic point-scoring exploits in the 1966 “Home” National League Championship-winning team that beat Galway by nine points to eight at Croke Park. Burns, who occupied the full forward position on that day, kicked eight of Longford’s nine points against a Galway team that won three back-to-back All-Irelands (1964-66).

After that historical triumph, Longford then hosted New York at Pearse Park. A 1-18 to 0-17 point aggregate win over a strong New York side featured five points from Bobby from his full forward berth.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

A man was duped into letting his premises be used to store $1.4 million worth of head-shop drugs, Dundalk District Court was told two weeks ago.

Robert Kennedy (35) of Milltown, Castlebellingham – who was described as a “scapegoat” – told Judge Flann Brennan that he thought that only packaging and shelving was being stored.

The court heard the Gardaí (police) recovered head-shop drugs with an estimated street value of $1.4 million when they carried out a search on December 11, 2010 at a house under renovation.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Residents of areas affected by a spate of burglaries are living in fear. They feel vulnerable due to Garda (police) cutbacks, and many are reportedly ready to take matters into their own hands.

Gardaí confirmed to The Mayo News that four houses between Ballyheane and Ballinrobe were burgled within a three-hour period on Friday night, November 23. The same criminal gang is thought to have been involved in all four break-ins.

These incidents are the latest in a worrying trend that sees more and more houses in Mayo being broken into and burgled.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

The shock refusal of planning permission for two separate cinema projects in Navan is robbing the town of millions of dollars in investment and hundreds of jobs, it has been claimed.
An Bord Pleanala's decision last Monday to refuse the two planning applications for the new state-of-the-art multiplexes has been described as an "economic mugging" of the town by Councilor Shane Cassells, who said it was "a stunning anti-jobs decision."

An application by Flix Cinema and Leisure Ltd. to develop a 10-screen cinema building with 1,918 seats, café and seating area at the Navan Retail Park on the Athboy Road was refused by the planning appeals board on Monday.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]
MONAGHAN

Conroy Gold and Natural Resources will look to joint venture options to fund mining of its County Monaghan gold discovery.

The explorer hopes to bring up over 15 million ounces of gold along a 30-mile trend stretching over counties Cavan, Monaghan and Armagh.

"We're probably looking to raise [$78 million] to mine the first 20 percent of Clontibret," said Chairman Richard Conroy. The Monaghan target would be the project's pilot mine.
[Source: Irish Independent]

OFFALY

Gardaí (police) have arrested four people outside Tullamore as part of an on-going operation into the activities of Dissident Republicans.

Members from the Special Detective Unit, supported by other National Units, arrested three males (20s and 30s) and one female (20s) at Rahan, County Offaly last Tuesday.

The four are currently detained at Tullamore (male and female) and Mullingar (two males) Garda Stations under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
[Source: Offaly Express]
ROSCOMMON

The Bishop of Elphin has voiced his concern over the future of Cloverhill N.S., situated just a few miles from Roscommon Town, appealing to the local community and parents to cooperate with the school to increase student numbers.

According to Bishop Christopher Jones, “the closing of a school can compare with switching off a powerful light in the community and of course once closed it is literally impossible to ever see it open again.”

Numbers in the school have dropped to below seven, the first time in its 125-years, and an urgent increase in numbers is needed in order for the school to stay open.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]
SLIGO

A doctor who said he did not think falsifying his patient’s test results was “a big deal” has given an undertaking at a Medical Council fitness-to-practice inquiry not to do it again.

Dr. John Stewart McKenna (28) from County Sligo, now a senior house officer at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, was working at St. Michael’s Hospital in Dún Laoghaire when the incident occurred.

Taking into account Dr. McKenna’s inexperience, his immediate admission of his actions and references from colleagues, the inquiry committee last Wednesday decided to make no findings of professional misconduct or poor professional performance against him.
[Source: Irish Times]
TIPPERARY

Hundreds of screaming schoolgirls greeted Una Healy on Friday, November 23, in the Presentation Secondary School’s assembly hall, as the Thurles singer/songwriter returned to her old Alma Mater as part of R.T.É.’s new series of “School around the Corner.”

A relaxed and tanned Una, straight back from L.A. where her band The Saturdays have just signed up with a new record label, gave tips on how to succeed in the tough world of show-business, and said she was inspired by her time at school to pursue her first love – music.

Principal Marie Collins said Una was just like any other girl, dressed in her wine uniform when she entered first year back in 1994. “She was bubbly, enthusiastic – everything a first year should be.” Una was involved in many extracurricular activities, and impressed at the County Tipperary Swimming Galas.
[Source: Tipperary Star]
TYRONE

Job-seekers in Coalisland and Dungannon are set to receive an early Christmas present with the news that an estimated 170 new jobs are being created in the two towns.

The Courier can confirm that 150 of the jobs have been earmarked for Coalisland's new Newell Stores Supermarket, while it is hoped a further 20 can be created at the Dungannon store.

The exact number of jobs on offer was not finalized until later last week, but a representative of Newell stores confirmed that these are the figures being looked at.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

A new website has been launched to promote “The Gathering” in Waterford, but also helps to stay in touch with the county’s diaspora beyond next year.

The famous holiday setting at Tramore beach was the venue for the unveiling of www.waterfordgathering.com, which is aimed at “creating a more lasting legacy” as a forum for communication with Waterford folk and their descendants worldwide, the organizers said.
[Source: Irish Times]
WESTMEATH

The cultural and arts scene in the Midlands was given a massive boost last Thursday when the launch of the $4.4 million Luan Gallery took place in Athlone.

Approximately 250 people attended the official opening of the facility by Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan.

Situated on Grace Road, adjacent to the town bridge, it is the first purpose-built, modern visual art gallery to be located in the Midlands. Its opening exhibition is entitled “Borrowed Memories” and comprises work from the collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
[Source: Westmeath Independent]
WEXFORD

An official invitation is to be sent to President Barrack Obama to visit New Ross in 2013.

The invitation will be sent as part of “The Homecoming” initiative, which was officially launched in the Tholsel two weekends ago.

The event, which formed part of the JFK50 Commemorations, was launched by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, on Saturday night, November 24.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

Locals in Wicklow Town have been baffled by the weekend disappearance of a 60-foot-tall inflatable snowman.

The decoration was erected on top of the flat roof of a shop unit in the center of the town on Saturday, November 24, as part of celebrations which involved the switching on of the town's Christmas lights.

However, it was noticed on Sunday night that it had disappeared.

The local Chamber of Commerce, whose members had invested heavily in decorating the town for Christmas, has appealed for the snowman's return.
[Source: RTE News]